Are Obama Fingers racist?

Pity the poor overseas entrepreneur hoping to capitalize on Obama's status as the biggest celebrity in the world. The American political correctness minefield awaits.

Case in point: Obama Fingers.

Charles Hawley of Der Spiegel points to the new German frozen food product, innocently intended to capitalize on the popularity of finger food in Germany. Mit curry dip.

"We noticed that American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment," Judith Witting, sales manager for Sprehe, told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans, like (Chancellor Angela) Merkel."

The idea, she claimed, was to get in on the Obama-mania which is continuing to grip Germany. The word "fingers" in the name refers to the fact that it is a finger food. "It's like hotdogs," Witting said. "No one would ever think they are actually from dogs."

For Americans in Germany, though, there is a risk that the product might be seen as racially insensitive. Fried chicken has long been associated with African-Americans in the US -- naming strips of fried chicken after the first black president could cause some furrowing of brows.

The entire thought of Obama Fingers gives me heartburn. But, when it comes to politically incorrect overseas products with faux American names, I have seen much worse.

Hat tip: Mac Fuller

Pity the poor overseas entrepreneur hoping to capitalize on Obama's status as the biggest celebrity in the world. The American political correctness minefield awaits.

Case in point: Obama Fingers.

Charles Hawley of Der Spiegel points to the new German frozen food product, innocently intended to capitalize on the popularity of finger food in Germany. Mit curry dip.

"We noticed that American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment," Judith Witting, sales manager for Sprehe, told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans, like (Chancellor Angela) Merkel."

The idea, she claimed, was to get in on the Obama-mania which is continuing to grip Germany. The word "fingers" in the name refers to the fact that it is a finger food. "It's like hotdogs," Witting said. "No one would ever think they are actually from dogs."

For Americans in Germany, though, there is a risk that the product might be seen as racially insensitive. Fried chicken has long been associated with African-Americans in the US -- naming strips of fried chicken after the first black president could cause some furrowing of brows.

The entire thought of Obama Fingers gives me heartburn. But, when it comes to politically incorrect overseas products with faux American names, I have seen much worse.